Tank drain



Sept. 28, 1937. I I J, w'ALKER 2,094,437 I TANK DRA IN Filed April 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l p 1937- J. P. WALKER 2,094,437

TANK DRAIN Filed April 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elma/WM,

Jq P Wa/ker Patented Sept. 28, 1937 PATENT OFFICE TANK DRAIN Jay P. Walker, Tulsa, Okla., assignor of forty per cent to Guy 0.

Marchant and six per cent to C. G. Wells, both of Tulsa, Okla. Application April 24, 1936, Serial No. 76.191

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tank drains.

The invention has particularly to do with the draining of tanks wherein liquids of different specific gravities, such as petroleum oil and water, are stored; and whereby the heavier liquid maybe withdrawn without draining the superimposed lighter liquid.

'One object of the invention is to provide an improved tank drain arranged to permit the draining or withdrawing of the heavier bottom liquid and 'sediment, without carrying off the lighter liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tank drain so arranged as to permit draining of the bottom liquid without channeling the liquids in the tank, thereby terminating undue agitation and precluding stirring up the sediment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tank drain wherein the bottom liquids and accumulations may be completely drained out flush with the surface of the bottom of the tank, thereby preventing permanent deposits on the bottom of the tankfl A particular object of the invention is'to providea tank drain in which the entrance to the drain is unobstructed byflanges' or other projections, thus permitting the draining liquid to flow freely across the bottom and carry with it all sediment,- thereby leaving the bottom clean.

An important object of the invention'is to provide a drain combined; with 'a cleanout and obviating the necessity of bottom holes andfasteningsand the consequent corrosive results. A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter, described, together with'other features of the invention.

The inventionwillbe more readily understood from areading'ofv the followingspecification and *by'reference to the accompanyingdrawings; in whichanexample of the invention is shown,"an'd wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of a tank equipped with a drain constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken at right angles to Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the drain shield,

Figure 5 is a slightly modified form employing a syphon drain.

Figure 6 is a partial vertical sectional view of another form of the invention,

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the drain,

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan of the drain, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the pedestal brackets. y

In the drawings the numeral I0 designates the cylindrical side wall and II the sheet metal bottom of a metal tank. A man-hole opening I2, rectangular in shape, is cut in the side wall 10 and extends upwardly from the bottom II. A man-hole frame I3 is bolted to the outside of the wall by bolts M, which have their heads held in channels I5 on the inside of the side wall.

The frame l3 rests upon the bottom flange l6 of the side wall which flange is bolted to the bottom II. A cover plate I1 is secured to the face of the outer flange l8 of the frame by bolts l9. By removing the cover plate I1, access may be had to the interior of the tank for cleaning out when necessary.

To the inside of the plate I1, I fasten a rectangular box-like shield 20 having a flat top 2|, opposite sides 22, and an end 23, depending therefrom. The bottom and the end next the plate are open. The open end of the shield is surrounded by amarginal flange 24, by which the shield is secured to the plate by means of bolts 25.

The sides 22 and end 23 are cut out along their lower edgesto form inlets 26 extending from legs 2] at the outer corners, whereby the outer end of the' shield is" supported. The shield is secured tothe plate so that its top will be level with the legs 21 resting upon the bottom I I. This makes the inlets 26 just high enough to permit the bottom liquid, such as salt water, to freely enter the shield.

The shield prevents the formation of a vortex arid thuskeeps the liquids from channeling. be-

cause thereis no direct downward flow, The

liquids m ust movelalterally across the bottom to enter-thesliield;

A drain pipe 28 is connected in a collar on the outside of the plate ll, close to the bottom, but slightly above the inlets. This pipe may have a suitable valve 29. The water or sediment level usually extends above the inlets 26 and when the valve is opened only water or sediment will enter the shield, thus the oil or other liquid floating on the water will not be agitated or carried out. The shield will form a trap and after the tank is once drained, only water or sediment will stand in said shield. Owing to the lateral or horizontal movement of the water in entering -Patent, is:

drainage.

20, except that ins'tead'of having one end open, 7

both ends of said shield are closed. Also the shield is not fastened to the plate H, but rests on the tank bottom at any point therein.-

A pipe 30 leads from the top of the shield and ex tends outwardly through the plate I1, and is bent downwardly, being connected with an outlet valve 3| which is located below the top of the shield in a horizontal plane, whereby the heavier liquid in the bottom of the tank may be drained therefrom a pipe 32 leads from the valve.

In Figures 6 to 9, still another form of the invention is shown, wherein a tank Ill having a bottom I I is provided. The tank bottom is provided with a drain opening 35 therein, which has a collar 35 surrounding the same. The opening and collar are threaded to receive an outlet pipe 36 which has a suitable control valve 31 therein. It will be obvious that the heavier liquids and sediment-in the bottom of the tank will flow outwardly through the opening and pipe 36.

To prevent the formation of a vortex as the liquids escape through the opening 35 and also to preclude channeling, a flanged cover plate 38 is provided. The cover has a much greater diameter than the opening and is disposed axially thereover. The cover is spaced from the bottom II by a plurality of angular legs or supports 39 which are bolted to the bottom H and to the to the drain opening 35.

From the aboveit willbe seen that the cover plate 38, which-is spaced above the opening 35 will positively prevent the liquids in the tank from flowing directly downwardly into said opening. This causes the liquids in the bottom-of the tank to move laterally beneath the flanged cover plate and thus the heavier liquids and sediment in the bottom of the tank will drain first. Chan- .nelingof the lighter liquids floating on the surface of the heavier liquids is avoided. The provision of the legs 39 permits the liquidsat the bottom to drain throughthe spaces and the cut-outs 39' and thusthe supports for the cover plate do not interfere in any way with the What I claim and desire to secure by Letters 1. a drainfor a-, tank wherein liquids ,of different specific gravities are stored, said tank having a man-hole in its side wall at the lower end thereof, a cover closing said manhole including, an outlet in said cover, and a shield having its interior communicating with said outlet located within the tank at the bottom thereof, said shield having inlets at its lower ends, whereby the liquids in the tank bottom flow laterally into the shield and then to the outlet, the shield being free from attachment to the tank and removable with the cover.

2. A drain fora tank wherein liquids of different specific gravities are stored including, a

shield located within the interior of the tank at the bottom thereof, said shield having inlets at its lower end adjacent the tank bottom, whereby li uids in said'tank bottom flow laterally thereacross beneath said shield, a horizontal out- 1185 pipe leading from the upper end of the shield and extending outwardly through the tank wall, a control valve connected to the outer end of said pipe, and a drain pipe extending from said valve to a point below the bottom of the tank.

3. In combination, a tank having a bottom and an upright side wall having a man-hole therein adjacent the bottom, an upright closure for said man-hole, a shield including, a casing having restricted inlets in its lower edges adjacent the bottom of the tank, and an outlet connected with the shield and extending through the closure, whereby the shield may be removed with the closure.

4. A drain for tanks containing liquids including, an upright man-hole cover, a box-like shield having an open bottom provided with inlets in its lower edges, an outlet conductor rigidly attaching the shield to said cover, whereby the shield may be removed with the cover.

5. A drain for a tank wherein liquids of different specific gravities are stored, said tank having aman-hole-in its-side wall at the lower end thereof, a removable cover closing said man-hole, a box-like shield having its bottom open and its bottom edges arranged to rest on the bottom of a tank, the bottom edges of the shield being cut 'away to form inlets, and a drain pipe extending from the shield through the man-hole cover, the shield .and cover being removable and replaceable with the pipe as a unit.

6. A drain for a tank wherein liquids of difierent specificgravities are stored, said tank having 'a man-hole in its side wall at the lower end thereof, a removable cover closing said man-hole, a box-like shield having its bottom open and its bottom edges arranged to rest on the bottom of a tank,'the bottom edges of the shieldbeing cut away to form inlets, means for rigidly fastening 

